BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method targeting the pneumolysin gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputum specimens from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was evaluated for the identification of pneumococci. METHODS: The applicability of the assay to clinical samples was evaluated by studying 140 sputum specimens from patients with CAP. Of the specimens, 96 (68.6%) were found to be positive by real-time PCR. The results were compared to culture findings. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the real-time PCR assay developed in this study as compared to those of the culture method were 97.2% and 60.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Real-time PCR assay was found to be a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of pneumococci.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method targeting the pneumolysin gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputum specimens from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was evaluated for the identification of pneumococci. METHODS: The applicability of the assay to clinical samples was evaluated by studying 140 sputum specimens from patients with CAP. Of the specimens, 96 (68.6%) were found to be positive by real-time PCR. The results were compared to culture findings. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the real-time PCR assay developed in this study as compared to those of the culture method were 97.2% and 60.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Real-time PCR assay was found to be a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of pneumococci.
Authors: Naomi J Gadsby; Clark D Russell; Martin P McHugh; Harriet Mark; Andrew Conway Morris; Ian F Laurenson; Adam T Hill; Kate E Templeton Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2016-01-07 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Elisabeth G W Huijskens; Adriana J M van Erkel; Fernand M H Palmen; Anton G M Buiting; Jan A J W Kluytmans; John W A Rossen Journal: Influenza Other Respir Viruses Date: 2012-08-22 Impact factor: 4.380